ISSUE 120
NEWSLETTER
OCTOBER 2021
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WITH COLDWELL BANKER TOMLINSON
Feast world Kitchen: Changing Spokane deliciously
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here’s a new way in Spokane to think globally and act locally while enjoying a delicious meal: dining at Feast World Kitchen. In April 2020, they began offering no-contact takeout meals one night a week, offered by a former refugee or immigrant family to showcase the global culture they bring to Spokane. At present, they are open 5 days per week (Wednesday - Sunday), and they’ve added in-person dining on a new outdoor patio — and soon in their newly remodeled dining room as the weather turns cold in late 2021. More importantly, over the ensuing eighteen months, Feast World Kitchen has built a network of 65 families who have shared their food and culture with Spokane through their catering and restaurant programs. Each of these families and individuals has been afforded an opportunity to build connections, grow small business and career skills, and improve their mastery of English. The Spokane “foodie” community is beginning to learn Feast’s weekly rhythm. Instead of a fixed menu, each day Feast offers a different global cuisine. The week’s menu is posted online (www.feastworldkitchen.org) at 5:30pm each Monday afternoon, revealing which global cultures will be represented by the chefs Wednesday through Sunday. Feast promotes the menu via social media and email, and customers can order a meal to go online, or order on-the-spot at the window on the south side of the building. (The window used to be a drive-through window a decade ago when the building was an Arctic Circle burger and shake joint)! At press time, Feast’s hours include an 11am-2pm lunch
service Wed-Sun, with dinner service 4-7pm on weeknights, and 4-8pm on Friday and Saturday nights. For the rotating chef families who cook at Feast, each shift is an adventure in planning, shopping, prepping, marketing, cooking, serving, and cleaning. It’s a lot of work for a couple of days leading up to their restaurant shift or event catering with Feast, but it can be a handsome payday if the public responds well to their offerings. If it’s busy, Feast’s independent contractors make enough profit to pay two month’s rent. Though the financial gain is really helpful, many chefs feel that the opportunity to share something of their culture with Spokane is more valuable than money. For Feast’s full-time Chef Program Director Maisa Abudayha, herself a chef and former asylum seeker from the Middle East, the mission of Feast is very personal. Knowing what it is like to be new in Spokane from a faraway place, she is passionate about extending a warm welcome to others in that position. Maisa and her family of six built a life and Maisa Abudayha a network of connections and friends here in the Spokane community over the past 7 years, and she loves helping other families do the same. She has seen an offering of food break down barriers separating cultures. Maisa and the team at Feast see the barrier-breaking power of food as an essential ingredient to building a stronger, more unified community. When asked what her job at Feast means to her, Maisa offers one word: “Everything.” Submitted by Melissa Blaine
The Affordability Crisis: Causes & Cures
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ousing continues to be a significant issue in the Spokane region. While the market has seemed to level heading into fall, underlying issues still persist. An historic trend of low supply will not change without significant movement by regional governments to loosen restrictions and incentivize market-rate housing. Recently the City of Spokane released their Housing Action Plan, which Spokane Home Builders Association rejected, along with our partners across the political spectrum. The dubious claim that the city only needs to produce 350 homes per year significantly misaligns with existing market conditions. We already know that prior to housing preference shifts of the past two years, Spokane County was under-built by 32,000 units. Our advocacy helped drive several amendments to the Housing Action Plan by the City Council. Most notably was an admission of the significant lack in supply as well as providing incentives for housing up to 120% of Area Median Income (AMI). Typically, these incentives only exist for projects that are at 60-80% AMI and below. Further action will be taken now that the City’s Plan Commission has been given direction by City Council. This spring also saw the release of the Sustainability Action Plan by a subcommittee of the Spokane City Council. Among the proposals, was an elimination of natural gas in residential and commercial construction. The plan called for no new hook ups by 2023, mandatory on-site generation (solar panels) by 2025, and no natural gas in any residential commercial construction by 2028. In a big win for housing affordability and public safety, the Revised Draft Sustainability Action Plan has removed these provisions, but the crusade against natural gas remains. We know that the elimination of natural gas would triple utility prices hurting families in our region. It also puts homes and hospitals at risk during winter months when power outages most severely affect residents. Additionally,
the infrastructure and jobs the natural gas creates helps build our community. The magical thinking that would suggest we can solve all our technology deficiencies in time for the looming aspirational deadlines has real world consequences that we cannot take lightly. The other significant impact to the industry this year was the implementation of the 2018 Energy Codes. These requirements were a departure from the energy efficiency focus from previous code cycles and instead increased costs on home buyers by an additional $15,000-$20,000 in compliance costs. Many attempts were made to pursue a data-driven performance method that uses computer modeling to establish and measure carbon emissions reduction. However, the politically appointed Codes Council denied this approach despite its existence in international code. Instead, the council restricts builders to a prescriptive path that mandates the purchase of certain equipment, which faces massive backorder itself. This approach is not only less scientifically valid but dramatically increases the cost of buying a home. However, wages are not increasing at the exponential rate of home cost. In the Spokane market, for every $1,000 in cost 187 families are priced out of the opportunity of purchasing a home. We cannot make policy decisions in a vacuum, particularly when it comes to housing. Homeownership increases health, improves education in children, decreases suicide and drug rates, and is the basis for 85% of small business creation. We must contend for homeownership as a foundational value for our community, even among the many other seemingly competing values. Our families deserve it, our trades workers deserve it, and our children deserve it. Let’s ensure we keep building for the future, one home at a time. Article by Isaiah Paine, SHBA Government Affairs Director
HOME RECIPES Pumpkin Gnocchi with Sage Butter Sauce
Ingredients 11/2 cups all-purpose flour 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon pepper 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg 1 cup canned pumpkin 24 cups water 4 fresh sage leaves 1 garlic clove, minced 1/4 cup Parmesan
Instructions 1. In a small bowl combine the flour, salt, pepper and nutmeg. Stir in pumpkin until blended. On a lightly floured surface, knead 10 times, forming a soft dough. Let rest for 10 minutes.
3. In a Dutch oven, bring water to a boil. Cook gnocchi in batches for 1 to 1-1/2 minutes or until they float. Remove with a slotted spoon; keep warm.
2. Divide dough into four portions. On a lightly floured surface, roll each portion into a 1/2 inch-thick rope; cut into 3/4 inch pieces. Press and roll each piece with a lightly floured fork.
4. In a large heavy saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Add the sage, garlic and gnocchi; stir to coat. Serve with the Parmesan.
Spokane Bakeries For Fall Treats
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hen the temperatures start to drop, there's nothing quite like enjoying a fresh-baked treat and a hot cup of coffee. There are plenty of great bakeries nearby where you can choose from a large selection of tasty treats. Here are a few we recommend checking out. Sweet Frostings Blissful Bakeshop 15 S. Washington, Spokane, WA 99201 With locations downtown, inside Northtown Mall and Valley Mall, and in Whitworth, Sweet Frostings Blissful Bakeshop has plenty of places to stop and satisfy your sweet tooth. The company is owned by a mother-and-daughter team who have been serving sweets to the local community since 2011. On the menu, you'll find a variety of cupcakes and mini cupcakes, with different flavors rotating each day. Three Birdies Bakery Spokane, WA Jamie, the owner of Three Birdies Bakery, is super passionate about what she does. All of her baked goods are made with the finest possible ingredients, and she also offers vegan and gluten-free options. Order custom cookies for any occasion, or you can join the monthly
cookie club! When you do this, you can get 6 or 12 cookies every month, which you can either pick up at Jamie's home or have delivered right to you. The Mason Jar 101 F. St., Cheney, WA 99004 Family-run business The Mason Jar serves up delicious espresso, paninis, and a selection of baked goods. They pride themselves on choosing locally sourced ingredients whenever possible and purchasing what they can't find nearby from the best "ethically and environmentally focused companies." When you visit, we suggest trying their gigantic cream cheese frosted cinnamon roll or a flaky, buttery croissant. After you enjoy your treat, be sure to check out the great nearby Cheney homes for sale. Contributed by Delta Media Group
Coldwell Banker Tomlinson 4102 S Regal St, Suite 201 Spokane, WA 99223
Now accepting coats! Donate new or gently used coats from now through November 15
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ISSUE 120 | OCTOBER 2021 ©2021 Coldwell Banker Tomlinson. All rights reserved. Each office is independently owned and operated. If you currently have an Agent assisting you with the purchase or sale of property, this is not a solicitation for business.
SPOKANE & Coeur d'alene REAL ESTATE MARKET STATISTICS September 2021 snapshots Spokane County
Coeur d'Alene
Average Sales Price
Median Sales Price
Average Sales Price
Median Sales Price
$414K
$385K
$765K
$509K
Up 24.4%
Up 22.8%
Up 43.5%
Up 28.2%
Current Listing Inventory
Average Days On Market
Current Listing Inventory
Average Days On Market
575
9
720
76
Up 22.1%
Down 53.8%
Down 20%
Down 10.6%
Closed Sales
Annual Residential Sales
Closed Sales
Annual Residential Sales
765
6,029
386
3,470
Up 2.7%
Up 3.2%
Down 32.5%
Down 5.3%
September 2021, as compared to September 2020. The information in this report is compiled from a report given by the Spokane Association of REALTORS® and to the best of our knowledge is accurate and current.
You can see the year over year increases in price continue into the Fall Market in both Spokane and Idaho. You may be wondering, should I buy now or wait until the Spring? Last year in October in Spokane County the average sold price was $357,000, in May of the following year, the Average sold price was $424,000. That is an 18% increase or about $65,000 difference from buying in the Fall vs buying in the Spring. Now we cannot predict the future and we do not have a crystal ball, but if you are thinking about buyer or waiting, please reach out to your trusted real estate professional at Coldwell Banker Tomlinson. Article by Abbey Parsons
September 2021, as compared to September 2020. The information in this report is compiled from a report given by the Coeur d’Alene Association of REALTORS® and to the best of our knowledge is accurate and current.
CONTACT ME WITH ANY QUESTIONS OR FOR DETAILED MARKET INFORMATION.